Perth, Western Australia (PRWEB) December 1, 2008 -- Murdoch University is the first university in Australia to fast-track selected Engineering courses to allow students to enter the workforce sooner by completing a degree in three years instead of four.
According to Professor Parisa Bahri (Dean of Engineering and Energy at Murdoch University) WA's resources boom and retiring baby boomers have led to a major skills shortage, particularly in Engineering.
"More skilled engineers are needed urgently- this is our way of helping to meet the skills shortage," said Professor Bahri. "The degree is extremely flexible, with options to take double degrees or fast-track just some units to fit study commitments around part-time work."
Murdoch is also the only university that allows six-month industry internships for engineering students in their final year of study.
"Our engineering students have a unique opportunity to gain valuable real-life work skills as part of their studies, and build lasting industry relationships to help them develop their engineering careers," added Professor Bahri. "An internship with one of our industry partners is beneficial for students and employers alike because it teaches practical skills that result in immediate benefits for all parties."
In addition to a practical internship, Murdoch students receive hands-on experience at the state-of-the-art engineering facilities and specialist labs at the South Street Campus.
"Our modern facility is the one of the few of its kind in Australia - with an on-campus pilot plant equipped with processing units, a centralised computer system and a modern control room," said Professor Bahri.
Fast-track students can choose from these specialist areas:
About Murdoch University:
Murdoch University is located in Perth, Western Australia and has a student population of over 15,000 including 3,000 international students. With the largest university campus in Australia, Murdoch has a national reputation for excellence in teaching, research and student satisfaction and recently achieved a five-star rating for graduate satisfaction with the release of the 2009 Good Universities Guide.